County Concert Series Kicks Off Sunday

The New Harmonies Concert Series at Historic Smithville Park kicks off Sunday with Capitol City Gospel Singers at 2 and 3 p.m. The group will perform old-time sacred songs.

The concert series is planned in conjunction with the New Harmonies Traveling Smithsonian Exhibit on display in the Smithville Mansion Annex Art Gallery through July 26. The exhibit is open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This weekend’s kick off concert in the park will showcase the music of the Capitol City Gospel Singers, a multidenominational group from Trenton.

“Burlington County is very fortunate to host this inspiring exhibit,” said Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio. 

Sponsored by the New Jersey Council on the Humanities, the New Harmonies exhibit depicts the United States through music, photographs, recordings, instruments, lyrics and artist profiles. Artwork by Lady Bird Strickland of Willingboro and photographs by Alonzo Jennings of Moorestown are also on display in the gallery, one of only six sites in the state selected to host the New Harmonies exhibit.

Additional Sunday concerts at Smithville Park, also scheduled for 2 and 3 p.m., are:

• July 3 – Singer/songwriter Spook Handy performing “Stand Up & Sing Out” folk music.
• July 10 – Country blues with John Golgan-Davis accompanied by guitarist Richard Ray Adler.
• July 17 - Zydeco-a-Go-Go performing Zydeco, Cajun and New Orleansrhythm and blues, preceded by a special performance of Celtic maritime music by Charlie Zahm beginning at 12:30 p.m.
• July 24 – Nationally-known storyteller Queen Nur along with Dwight James and Sarai Abdul-Malik presenting “Holla,’ Shout and Turnabout.”

For more information about the New Harmonies Exhibit and programs at Historic Smithville Park, Smithville Road off Route 38 in Eastampton, call 609-265-5858 or visit co.burlington.nj.us.